All News

November 16, 2004

Passenger Survives, But Is Severely Injured

ANN has just learned that New Kolb Aircraft CEO, Norm Labhart
(48), has been lost in a Monday afternoon crash of one of his
factory's aircraft. Piloting a Kolb Mk III Xtra (file photo, below)
at 1240 local time, Labhart impacted the side of a hill at the
Chesnut Knolls Aviation Airpark, near the Pulaski Country line, in
Southern Kentucky, killing him and injuring a passenger.

Michael Sears' Testimony Could Widen DOD Probes

Boeing's former chief financial officer, Mike Spears, pleaded
guilty Monday to charges that he deceived the government when he
offered a job to Air Force negotiator Darleen Druyun as she oversaw
contract talks aimed at replacing the military's aging tanker
fleet.

Mission Aiming At Mach 10 Scrubbed

NASA's experimental scramjet, the X-43A, was supposed have made
an attempt at Mach 10 flight Monday. The X-43A research mission
intended to reach Mach 10 today was postponed, and may be
rescheduled for the same time Tuesday.

After nearly two weeks of intensive tryouts, two Canadian Forces
pilots have officially become the newest members of 431 Air
Demonstration Squadron, the Canadian Forces’ Snowbirds. Capt.
David Boudreau from Dalhousie, N.B., and Capt. Mike French from
Langley, B.C., will now begin a rigorous six-month training
program.

Aircraft Clipped Apartment Building

It was a dark and stormy night in San Antonio Sunday -- one that
turned deadly for five people aboard a Piper PA-31 Navajo trying to
land in the foul weather. All on board were lost when the aircraft
clipped a senior citizens' apartment building, leaving one wing
embedded in a wall.

Albany International Courts Corporate, GA Aviation

They're Just Waiting On A Judge's Contract Ruling

United Airlines flight attendants, angry at the company's call
for another round of concessions, are on the warpath. Their union
has called for a strike -- if a judge rules United can invalidate
the current contract.

College President Reviewing Proposal

Enrollment is down, tuitions are up, the state of Indiana is in
the midst of a budget crunch and staffers only got a two-percent
raise this year.
So what in the world makes Indiana State University administrators
think they should buy an airplane? That's the question among
critics and some students at the university as administrators
continue looking into a possible purchase.

"Voice Reception Very Clear"

The first commercial passenger aircraft to use the Federal
Aviation Administration’s Next Generation Communications
(NEXCOM) VHF Data Link (VDL) Mode 3 digital voice communications
was certified October 17, 2004, opening the way for more efficient
voice and data communications between air traffic controllers and
pilots. The aircraft is equipped with Rockwell Collins VHF radio
and communications management unit.

"It is a small financial component to the airport finances.
However, we look at general aviation as an opportunity -- the
opportunity to bring in additional jobs. They are proponents and
promoters of aviation, and that is within our mission
statement."
Source: Albany International Airport CEO John
O'Donnell in an interview with the local Times-Union, as ALB tries
to expand its offerings to both corporate and GA pilots. O'Donnell
told the newspaper it's not necessarily about the money -- it's
also about jobs.

AD NUMBER: 2004-23-09
MANUFACTURER: Empresa
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-23-09
SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing
airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain EMBRAER Model
EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes, that currently requires
determining whether a defective auxiliary power unit (APU) exhaust
silencer is installed on the airplane; and corrective actions if
necessary. For certain airplanes, this amendment requires
modification of the APU exhaust silencer, and reidentification of
the part number for the APU exhaust silencer once the modification
is accomplished.

AD NUMBER: 2004-23-05
MANUFACTURER: McDonnell Douglas
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-23-05
SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness
directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas airplanes,
that requires reversing the ground stud installation of the main
battery, and installing a new name plate on the cover of the
battery.